Improvement in knob-latches



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ASA T. BROOKS, oir NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOE To RUSSELL AND EEWIN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE,

Letters Patent No. 92,153, (lated July 6, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN KNOB-LATCHES.

The Schedile ref-erred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom yit ina-y concern:

Be it known that I, ASA .l. BROOKS, of N ew Britain, in the county of Hartford, aiid State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking Knob-Latches; and I do hereby declare that the following is af'ull, clear, and exact description thereof, and of their mode or manner of operation, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the 4letters of reference marked thereon, and making a part of this specitication.

The nature of my present improvements in knoblatches consists ot' a peculiar construction ofthe knoblever, so called, and its combination with the latchbolt, and the mechanism which looks or fastens the saine, by which one par oi' the knob-lever is caused to elevate or remove out of theway of the latch-bolt, the locking-meelianisni, so thatv the other portion of the knob-lever can carry back the latch-bolt.

Figure l shows the lockiiig-mechanism in two positions, when t-lie dooi' is opened and when shut, and also the ordinary position ofthe divided knob-lever.

Figure 2 shows the position ot' the knob-lever, when one part has elevated the locking-niechanisin, and also the position oi' such lever when the latch-bolt has been cairied back.

Figure 3 is a'view ofthe under side of the latch-bolt.

Figure 4 is a representation ofthe supplemental bolt and looking-incclianisni.

Figure 5 is a representation of the parts of the divided -knob-lever.

Figure 6 is a view of the under side of that portion of the knob-lever which elevates the locking-plate or bar.

Figure 7 is a representation of the divided hub.

The main latch A, which can he operated by the knob, isfin shape and structure substantially like ordinary latches, and is thrown forward by means of a spring', a, acting against one part ofthe knob-lever.

The mechanism for locking or fastening such latch, when it is thrown forward, consists oi' a latcliplate,v.\, and a locking-plate or bar, B. A full-sized representation oi' such latch-plate Af is shown in iig. 4, which lies partially beh-ind the plate of the latch A, and between it and the case-plate G, and which has on its front end a small latch, af, which moves in a suitable opening in the front plate D of the lock, such latchplateand latch being thrown forward by the spring 0, and forced back within the lock hy a part ofthe niain latch striking against a shoulder oi'siich latch-plate A. The central part ot' such plate A is cut away, as shown in tig. 4, to receive a stud, or projection (l, on the under side ofthe locking-barB, which turns on a stud, b, projecting from the case-plate C, the back end, l, ot' such locking-bar B, lying against the case-plate and under the lower ciid ot' the knob-lever, and the other end lying upon or over the latch-plate A.

The position of the main latch and of the lockingmechanisin before the door is closed is shown in fig. 1,

the main latch A and the supplemental latch-plate A',

'by the striking-plate E, which is attached to the doorcasing, the rib e on suoli latch passing below the, locking-plate B, and at the same time thelatcltplate A' is pushed back by a part of the latch A striking against a shoulder, s, on the front part of such latchp1ate A.

When the door is fully shut, the inaiii latch' A shoots forward through a suitable opening in the striker-plate E, and holds the door closed; but such striker is solid in front ofthe small latch a', so that suoli latch is prevented from shooting forward, and is held back in the position shown in red lines in iig. 1, and also shown in liv'. 2 and the inclined face 2 ofthe central cavit in thelatch-plate A being carried back and away from the stud el, on the locking-plate B, such plate is permitted, as soon as the main latch A shoots forward ,into the striker, to drop down-or be carried down bya. spring,.j, behind the rib e, on the under side of the latch A, and thus lock such latch, and prevent it being forced backward out ofthe striker, until such locking-plate B shall again be raised.l

Such locking-plate is prevented dropping too far by means of a projection, g, on the lower edge of the plate of i-he' latch A.- The position of the locking-bar,when it is thus locking the latch A, is shown in red lines in tig. 1.

olhe locking-bar B is raised, so as to permit the latch to be moved backward, and the door be opened in the following manner: The key being inserted in the lock over the stein h., and turned, acts against the key-bar i, (which turns on a pivot, or stud j,) and moves it iintil its end strikes against the lower end, k, ot' the under portion F ofthe knob-lever, tigs.5 and 6, such end la lying over and projecting below the back end 1 of the locking-plate B, and a projection, 3, onl the under side ot' such knob-lever F, resting 4within a notch, 4, in the back end oil such locking-plate. As the key is further turned, 'the bar t in/oves backward the lower part F ofsuch knob-lever, and t-lie projection 3 being carried from out the notch 4 and along the upper edge ot' the back end l of the lockiiig-bar B, presses down that end, and consequently raisesthe other end, until it passes above the rib e ou the latch A, so that the latch can be moved back. The parts ot' the divided knob-lever-F F can move irrespective ofeach other,

and they are so arranged that the part F can be moved backward a certain distance before it will meet the part 1*", and the space through which such lower part b will move before it meets or comes in contact with the other part, h", Qf such knob-lever, as shown in lig. 2, is sutiicient to raise the locking-plate just above the rib e; and the further movement of the key-bar i. then forces back both parts ofthe knoblever, and the latch A along with them, carrying the latch out of the striker, so that the door can be opened.

-plate B is elevated, so as to permit the latch A to again move back as the door is again closed.

The drawings show a. series of guards, G, within the latch-case, which are severally acted upon by different parts of the key, and in combination therewith an np right stem, l, ou the bar i, so arranged that the latch cannot be moved by any key, except by such a one as shall so place the guards that the stem l can pass into a recess, fm, made in each of such gna-rds before operating the knob-lever or locking-plate; and such drawings also show a key-hole guardl H, which is so connected with the bar 'i as-to close tbe key-hole as the key is turned; but these devices, though adding security against the latch being picked, do not in any manner at'ect the action' ofthe lockinganechanism before described.

In the construction of the divided hub I I, both parts of such hub are provided with arms 5 5, to act upon the knob-lever. The inner part ofthe hub, or that portion I shown in tig. 7, connects with the knob on the inside ofthe door by means of-the spindle, and consequently, as such knob is turned, the knob-lever will be operated, and the locking-plate raised and the latch drawn back. The other portion ofthe hub, and with which the outside knob of the door is connected, rests upon and partly within the inner portion, in a sort of socket, shown in lig. 7, but can only be turned ii'om the outside when the stop L is raised, and is prevented from being. turned when such stop is pushed or dropped down, when the latch can only be moved back by the use of the key, while from within, the latch can be drawn back and the door opened by means of the knob alone. The spindle used is the ordinary swivel spindle.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the main latch A, supplemental latch-plate A', locking-bar or plate B, and divided knob-lever, arranged and opemtinr substantiallyT as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of thel main latch A, lockingbar, 0r plate 15, and divided knob-level', substantially as and tor the purposes set forth.

3. The combination of the main latch A, lockingbar, or plate B, divided knob-lever, and key-bar fi, or its equivalent, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

ASA T. BROOKS. iVitnesses:

Eni-:nv PARKS, M. J. Woonnumr. 

